Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Pontiac fever is described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a mild respiratory disease caused by a type of bacteria called Legionella that gets better without treatment. Exposure to Legionella can also cause Legionnaires’ disease, a potentially deadly infection. Pontiac fever and Legionnaires' disease are also known as legionellosis.
The bacteria can be found in natural, freshwater environments. Water containing Legionella can spread in mists or droplets small enough to be inhaled. Less commonly, people can get sick by aspiration of drinking water containing Legionella.
CDC warns that Legionella can become a health concern when it grows and spreads in human-made building water systems like:
• Showerheads and sink faucets
• Hot tubs
• Decorative fountains and water features
• Hot water tanks and heaters
• Large, complex plumbing systems
• Cooling towers
The agency also shares that it usually takes between a few hours to 3 days after being exposed to Legionella bacteria to develop Pontiac fever symptoms. The illness is generally milder than Legionnaires' disease, and someone with Pontiac fever doesn't have pneumonia. Symptoms usually last less than 1 week and mostly include:
• Fever
• Muscle aches
Fortunately, most healthy people exposed to Legionella don't get sick. People at increased risk of getting sick include:
• Current or former smokers
• People 50 years or older
• People with specific health issues or conditions
• People with a weak immune system
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cautions that workers may develop Pontiac fever or Legionnaires disease if they are exposed Legionella on the job. They state that managing Legionella and preventing worker exposures and legionellosis cases depend on implementing an effective water management program.
The good news is environmental testing to proactively sample for Legionella to help prevent infections, or to quickly identify the source of an illness or outbreak, is available.
These are just a few of the many things to know about Pontiac fever and Legionella exposure risks. To learn more about this or other indoor air quality, industrial hygiene, infection control, environmental, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
CTSI ctsiweb.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
Pontiac fever is described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a mild respiratory disease caused by a type of bacteria called Legionella that gets better without treatment. Exposure to Legionella can also cause Legionnaires’ disease, a potentially deadly infection. Pontiac fever and Legionnaires' disease are also known as legionellosis.
The bacteria can be found in natural, freshwater environments. Water containing Legionella can spread in mists or droplets small enough to be inhaled. Less commonly, people can get sick by aspiration of drinking water containing Legionella.
CDC warns that Legionella can become a health concern when it grows and spreads in human-made building water systems like:
• Showerheads and sink faucets
• Hot tubs
• Decorative fountains and water features
• Hot water tanks and heaters
• Large, complex plumbing systems
• Cooling towers
The agency also shares that it usually takes between a few hours to 3 days after being exposed to Legionella bacteria to develop Pontiac fever symptoms. The illness is generally milder than Legionnaires' disease, and someone with Pontiac fever doesn't have pneumonia. Symptoms usually last less than 1 week and mostly include:
• Fever
• Muscle aches
Fortunately, most healthy people exposed to Legionella don't get sick. People at increased risk of getting sick include:
• Current or former smokers
• People 50 years or older
• People with specific health issues or conditions
• People with a weak immune system
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cautions that workers may develop Pontiac fever or Legionnaires disease if they are exposed Legionella on the job. They state that managing Legionella and preventing worker exposures and legionellosis cases depend on implementing an effective water management program.
The good news is environmental testing to proactively sample for Legionella to help prevent infections, or to quickly identify the source of an illness or outbreak, is available.
These are just a few of the many things to know about Pontiac fever and Legionella exposure risks. To learn more about this or other indoor air quality, industrial hygiene, infection control, environmental, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
CTSI ctsiweb.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
